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4.3 AVERAGE
4.3 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
This was definitely a stronger book than the last two, but I'm not sure if that means I liked it or not. Stiefvater's writing in this series, especially books 2 and 3, has become very stylized and poetic (for lack of a better term), which in some places provides intense impact (such as the chapter of Ronan's which is just the same question repeated over and over. Real intense in the audiobook!) and incredibly distracting in others (every one of Hennesey's monologues). The series doesn't answer many of the lingering questions from the Raven Cycle. It doesn't address the sleepers, or the tree people, which were hardly explained at the end of the Raven King. A lot of the final action takes place in Dream Space, which, while cool, is very difficult to follow. The series has lost its tangibility that Stiefvater's imagery can concoct, and instead is a sort of fantastical mush of words and images that my mind sort of glazed over.
That said, I liked the final battle. I thought it was weird to bring back a guy who supposedly died in the first book, but I'm not really surprised considering the number of body doubles throughout the series. Matthew's "death" was just cruel. I almost cried. But then to have NO ONE lost from the main crew except Bryde and Lillian felt weird. I feel like there should have been stronger consequences for things like, oh I don't know, Declan going on a shooting spree? Adam losing himself in his scrying. Hennesey's... everything.
3/5 stars. -1 for a lack of continuity re: the Raven Cycle ; -1 for the overly poetic language that became a distraction.
That said, I liked the final battle. I thought it was weird to bring back a guy who supposedly died in the first book, but I'm not really surprised considering the number of body doubles throughout the series. Matthew's "death" was just cruel. I almost cried. But then to have NO ONE lost from the main crew except Bryde and Lillian felt weird. I feel like there should have been stronger consequences for things like, oh I don't know, Declan going on a shooting spree? Adam losing himself in his scrying. Hennesey's... everything.
3/5 stars. -1 for a lack of continuity re: the Raven Cycle ; -1 for the overly poetic language that became a distraction.
A thrilling conclusion to a well written Trilogy that ties things up together by the end. Good pace, good humour, plenty of revelations.
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
So many mixed feelings. I feel like I've been reading this series and the Raven Cycle forever. I'll admit that I didn't love this one as much, but endings are harder than promises. I don't love Stiefvater's tendency to introduce what feels like a left-field twist 2/3 (or more) through a story. Didn't love the general absence of Adam through most of the series and how little we got to understand his point of view ... or the vague hand-wavy making up. But I do like a happy ending.
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
tense
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Dreaming is about intention, and Ronan intended for this forest to last. He intended for this forest to tell him how to exist in the future as a dreamer. He intended for this forest to be able to survive without him. He intended for this forest to want him.
(It was about Adam, of course)
How do I survive after reading this series? I love all of it so much.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated